Leg support



Aug. 25, 1964 D. LIFTMAN use SUPPORT Filed May 21, 1962 INVENTOR. DAV/DLIFTMAN AT ORNEX United States Patent 3,145,397 LEG SUPPORT Davidliiitman, 15 Reade Ave, Lynn, Mass. Filed May 21, B62, er. No. 196,216Claims. (Cl. 5--327) This invention relates to a device for providinggreater comfort for individuals who have an immobilized limb. Inparticular, it relates to a supporting device which permits anindividual who has an immobilized leg, as for example, a leg which isparalyzed or is in a cast, to be able to shift his other leg to anadjustable, comfortable, supported position crosswise of the immobilizedleg.

Where an individual has been so unfortunate as to receive an injury tothe foot or leg, it is common that the therapy involved include longrest in bed, wherein the injured leg must be immobile and cannotwithstand any jarring or pressure. During a long period of suchconvalescence, the injured person becomes very uncomfortable, not onlybecause of the immobilization of the injured leg, but because of therestriction of normal motion that he can make with the (otherwisehealthy) other leg. Thus, for example, he could not cross his legs,although if such crossing were possible, he would feel a great deal morecomfortable because he is exercising the other (healthy) leg.

()ne object of this invention is to provide a device which will permit aperson who has an injured limb requiring immobilization to maintain theinjured limb immobilized, but to permit him to freely exercise the otherhealthy limb, including crossing over the immobilized limb and restingit in cross position without any damage to the immobilized limb.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from thespecification and claims which follow and from the appended drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thisinvention with an immobilized limb shown in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial top View of the device showing several otherpositions in phantom.

The invention comprises generally an arcuate frame member on top ofwhich is mounted a movable support member adapted to support a portionof a leg. In its preferred form, the band is telescopic and has severallocking positions so as to be able to span the immobilized leg and themovable support member is connected by a ball joint to the frame memberso as to provide a maximum of flexibility as to position.

Referring now to drawings, the arcuate frame member 11 has lateralflanges 11a and 11b and is supported on its ends by arcuate receivingpockets 12 and 13 whose lateral flanges 12a and 12b, and 13a and 13b,cooperate with the band flanges lla and 11b. The receiving pockets 12and 13 are each provided with two series of spaced holes 18, whichregister with corresponding holes 19 in the frame member 11. Attachedlegs 14, 15', 16 and 17 are provided for locking the frame member 11.into a esired position in the receiving members 12. and 13.

The leg support member 23 is in the form of an open half cylindricalshell with a resilient inner lining 24. On the base of the supportmember 213 is an extension protrading through a central hole 22 in themiddle of the frame member 11 and terminating in a ball 25 which issupported by a registering socket 21 afiixed to the under surface or"the frame member 11.

I claim:

1. A device for supporting a leg of a person in a position across butnot bearing on the other leg, comprising an arcuate member adapted tospan one foot and a leg support member which is positioned above andattached to said arcuate member with attaching means permitting movementof said support member with respect to said arcuate member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said arcuate member is adjustable inlength.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said arcuate member comprisesadjustable telescoping elements and means for locking said elements intoa selected position.

The device of claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises ball andsocket means.

5. A device for supporting one leg of a person in a position across butnot hearing on the other leg, comprising an arcuate member adapted tospan one leg and a leg support member; said leg support member beingpositioned' above and movably attached to said arcuate member by balland socket means; said arcuate member comprising adjustable telescopingelements and means for locking said elements into a selected position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS307,024 Drake Oct. 21, 1884 1,008,456 Etter Nov. 14, 1911 2,722,692Dempster Nov. 8, 1955

1. A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A LEG OF A PERSON IN A POSITION ACROSS BUTNOT BEARING ON THE OTHER LEG, COMPRISING AN ARCUATE MEMBER ADAPTED TOSPAN ONE FOOT AND A LEG SUPPORT MEMBER WHICH IS POSITIONED ABOVE ANDATTACHED TO SAID ARCUATE MEMBER WITH ATTACHING MEANS PERMITTING MOVEMENTOF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID ARCUATE MEMBER.